Game of Thrones In Guruve: Chieftaincy Succession Turns Bloody As ‘Heir’ Is Slain In Cold Blood

Guruve Chieftaincy Murder: Heir Strangled In Christmas Day Power Grab

The battle for a traditional throne in Guruve has taken a deadly turn, transforming a family succession into a real-life ‘Game of Thrones’. The man poised to become chief was brutally murdered on Christmas Day in an alleged plot by his own relatives, desperate to seize power for themselves.

The chilling details of the killing of 54-year-old Headman John Chimana Chaora have been laid bare by police. The Kazunga Village leader was strangled and his body dumped near Ambush Dam, only to be found in an advanced state of decomposition nearly a week later.

A Christmas Day Gathering Turned Deadly

According to a detailed police statement released on January 2, 2026, the victim’s last known movements were eerily normal. He had attended a family gathering in Zvivindi Village on December 25, accompanied by his 29-year-old son, Manyara Chaora.

The pair later stopped at Bowen Business Centre for a drink. Manyara left his father there, checking on him again around 8pm before finally returning home. That was the last time John Chaora was seen alive.

His disappearance sparked a massive search from December 26, involving police, the armed forces, and the community. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the grim outcome of that search. He stated:

“The victim was reported missing on 28/12/25 after being last seen at Bowen Shops, Kazunga Village, Guruve on 25/12/25. Investigations by the police led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the victim’s belongings. The body was located near Ambush Dam, Kazunga Village, Guruve on 31/12/25.”

A Plot Born Of Ambition And Envy

Police investigations quickly revealed this was no random crime. It was, they allege, a meticulously planned assassination driven by envy over traditional leadership. Commissioner Nyathi’s statement outlined a shocking motive, implicating a 58-year-old relative. The statement read:

“Kelvin Chaora later implicated Ranwes Chaora alleging that he had masterminded the murder following a dispute with the victim over a chieftainship position which the victim was reportedly due to assume.”

The arrests of five relatives—Kelvin Katuruza Chaora (26), a 16-year-old juvenile, Chemika Gwenzi (33), Bvumbe Mandeya (35) and the alleged mastermind Ranwes Chaora (58)—followed a crucial tip-off. The juvenile suspect was found with the victim’s cellphone, leading to a chain of arrests and confessions. Police recovered the victim’s shoes from another suspect.

Community Reels From Betrayal

The killing has sent shockwaves through the Guruve community, where many initially feared the murder was linked to a separate, wanted murder suspect, Anymore Zvitsva. The revelation that the violence came from within the family itself has left villagers struggling to comprehend the depth of the betrayal.

As police continue their investigations, including the hunt for Anymore Zvitsva, a family is left to mourn a leader whose ascension to chief was brutally cut short by those closest to him.